Dubai loses 44% of visitors in eight months as short-let operator shuts
Dubai drew 6.97 million arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, down 44%, as UAE hotel occupancy fell to 67.6% and Silkhaus said it will shut.
Dubai recorded about 6.97 million arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, down 44% from the same period last year, a sign of the heavy blow dealt to tourism in the emirate.
Hotel occupancy in the UAE fell to 67.6% in September from 79.9% a year earlier, while forward bookings for short-term rental apartments fell 37.5% for November.
In a notable development, short-let operator Silkhaus said it will cease operations at the end of November, citing the US-Iran war and its impact on travel.
The data showed nine international airlines have suspended flights to Dubai into 2027: KLM, Singapore Airlines, Wizz Air, Cathay Pacific, United Airlines, Air Canada, Finnair, Luxair and Virgin Atlantic, adding pressure on the emirate's tourism and hospitality sector and weighing on the short-term rental market.
What do these terms mean?
Hotel occupancy rate: The percentage of rooms occupied out of the total rooms available in a hotel during a given period.
Short-term rentals: Residential units rented for short periods to tourists and visitors rather than under long annual contracts.
Arrivals: The number of visitors reaching a given destination during a specific period, used as a measure of tourism activity.
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